LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
New South Wales Blues head coach Laurie Daley has announced the squad for Game 1 of the State of Origin amid significant injury concerns.
As reported by zerotackle.com, recent NRL matches have led to injuries for key players, particularly prop Payne Haas and centre Stephen Crichton, who have been named in the squad but remain uncertain for the match in Brisbane next Wednesday night.
If either Haas or Crichton cannot play, Campbell Graham (18th man) and Stefano Utoikamanu (19th man) are the likely replacements.
Notably, star Manly Sea Eagles second-rower Haumole Olakau'atu has been excluded from the main squad and is listed as the 20th man.
This decision allows Liam Martin and Angus Crichton to maintain their positions in the second-row lineup, with Hudson Young from Canberra included on the bench.
The injury chaos adds tension as the team prepares for the highly anticipated opener, highlighting the unpredictable nature of player fitness leading up to key fixtures.